I told some folks what potential newcomers, visitors, etc. have asked me through the years: ‘What’s the best thing about Lancaster? Why should I want to move there?’

It has been my privilege to tell them many positive aspects about our community, but I always conclude by telling these inquirers that it’s our people, our citizens who are so special. They are caring, thoughtful, friendly people, who volunteer and assist, and who will welcome them warmly.

Halloween – the annual fall fun and fright night – is set for Thursday in our community.
It’s a special time of year when youngsters take to the streets in their neighborhood for trick-or-treating.
Like any holiday, it should be a night of fun for all.
We urge those who plan to hit the streets to take a little time to note safety measures for the few hours they are out and about.
The night should be fun, and it usually is, but take a moment and review some key safety points to prevent disaster and possible tragedy.

OK, not much introduction needed this month.
Here is what is going on with the so-called government “shutdown.”
How much of the government is shut down? Even the government’s own research service says the title “government shutdown” is misleading.

The quality work of See Lancaster is widely known in our area. Now the city of Lancaster’s marketing arm has gained national acclaim.
Through its promotion and revitalization efforts, See Lancaster has earned national designation.
Earlier this spring, See Lancaster was recognized as a National Main Street Program for meeting revitalization standards established by the National Main Street Center, a part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Plenty can be said of David Demby. What you can’t say about Demby is that he’s inactive. “I’m tied up all the time,” Demby said.
So true because Demby is a man wearing many hats.
He’s an army reservist, a Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services paramedic and time as a field training officer with the Lancaster County EMS.
One time when Demby had to pause for some time came earlier this spring when he was awarded the Paramedic of the Year.

The 2013 University of South Carolina Lancaster spring semester might be history, but a pair of USCL spring sports teams are still going strong.
The Lancers’ golf team and baseball squad have extended their seasons into post-season play.
The 25-12 USCL golf team, under the leadership of coach Ricky Walters, is headed to the National Junior College national tournament after winning the Region X tournament with a sudden death win over Wake Tech at the Boscobel Golf Course in Pendleton last month.

Today is Easter, regarded as one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar.
Easter, also known as Pascha, is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day following his crucifixion at Calvary, according to the New Testament.
Easter follows Lent, the 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance which begins with Ash Wednesday and continues through Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.

Where you start has nothing to do with where you end up. Nobody knows that as well as the Lewisville High Lions boys basketball team.
We aren’t just talking about the 0-6 start the team endured while playing Class A’s toughest out-of-region schedule. The program itself has come a long way from humble beginnings.
History recounts that Lewisville’s first teams, in the 1940s, didn’t have a gym to play in. In fact, it didn’t even have a paved surface on which to dribble. The team’s outdoor court was made of dirt.

S.C. Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell fired off some eye-opening statistics recently at the Duke Energy retirees quarterly luncheon.
McConnell’s speech centered on the aging population of the state and what a poor job we are doing of making their lives comfortable.

The recent death of Mary Mackey Robertson ended a life of outstanding service. Robertson, no matter where she was involved, was all about serving those where she lived.
She was reputed as a trailblazer in education, rising through the ranks to serve in various capacities.
Her dedication to education reached an apex last spring when she was inducted into the Lancaster County School District Hall of Fame.

While the official Veterans Day is not until Sunday, Lancaster County residents have a chance to honor their local veterans on Saturday. That chance will be at the annual Veterans Day Parade slated to begin at noon on Main Street.
With the election finally behind us, we have the opportunity to focus on thanking and honoring those who risk their lives to protect our freedom both here and on the foreign fields. Many of them have made the extreme sacrifice for our freedom.

When a council or board retires to executive session, it is not entering into a new or different meeting. It’s the same meeting, the door has just been closed.
A few weeks ago, we pointed out that a court ruling had been issued which made it very clear that meeting agendas cannot and should not be amended once a meeting has begun. Public bodies must provide an agenda for their meetings at least 24 hours in advance. The intent is to tell the public what they will discuss and may vote on.

It is fairly common practice for boards and councils to amend their meeting agendas once a meeting has begun without any objections. From now on, we object to the practice.
Public bodies are required to give advance notice not less than 24 hours in advance of a meeting. An agenda for any meeting must be posted as well. Essentially, though, public bodies treat agendas as though they are written in pencil, altering them and making additions well into meetings.

Fred Thompson thought Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile was kidding him, but as it turned out, Thompson had plenty to smile about.
Thompson, a sheriff’s office investigator, was recently presented the S.C. Deputy of the Year award by the S.C. Sheriff’s Association at the association’s annual convention in Hilton Head.
“When I heard, I thought the sheriff was just teasing me,” Thompson said. “It took awhile to let it sink in.”

Persistence personified can be found in the group of area youth who have pushed for a skateboard park in Lancaster County.
The group, led by Dustin Owens and his skateboard-loving followers, have frequented area government council meetings in the past year, pushing for a skateboard park.
They’ve been to city and county council meetings in hopes of a solution, but it appears they may have found their future hopes at the Kershaw Town Council.

Every time I pick up The Lancaster News, I see another murder, another home invasion, someone getting robbed and beaten, sexually assaulted or burglarized.
The pathetic (one of many) part is – it’s the same person doing the crimes over and over again. We can’t blame the officers who make the arrests – they’re doing their jobs. They’re getting them off the streets and putting them behind bars.

The South Carolina Gamecocks brought home a handsome trophy from Omaha on Tuesday afternoon to a large throng of garnet and black-clad USC fans at Carolina Stadium.
It wasn’t the biggest prize the Gamecocks had hoped for, but it was a coveted trophy.
Plenty of teams would have loved to be bearing the runner-up trophy from the College World Series, and the Gamecocks were.
The two-time defending national champions had hoped to bring home another national crown for the third straight June.

With consumer fireworks now more popular than ever in South Carolina, it is important that we use common sense, recognize that fireworks essentially function via a controlled burn, and follow safety tips to ensure a safe and wonderful experience celebrating America’s freedom.
Consumer fireworks are actually safer today than ever before.